Dusty sunlight drifted through the cabin, illuminating a mismatched pattern of wood, much of which had turned gray with age. Now that he could fully see the single room he found it a wonder the walls had lasted the storm, but there was something charming about the forgotten place. Or perhaps it was the length of woman stretched over him, her creamy complexion a stark contrast to his tanned arms and chest. Her beauty unnerved him. Verily, the whole of her did. Other men spoke often of sex. Of women—even Puritan women—who shed their inhibitions along with their clothing and performed so sinfully they must not have feared for the wrath of the church. Though if they did indeed repent, it was no surprise the whole of the population ceased everything to worship on Sunday. Josiah could not begin to guess the accuracy of such tales, but now that he had experienced it for himself, he could want for nothing more. Hours before, he wondered if he would ever again feel his legs.
